Laverda Jota 1000

Since the end of World War II, the Laverda company of Breganze has been making a name for itself worldwide by building machines which embody the high-spirited principles so beloved of the Italians. Indeed, Laverda's offering in the superbike stakes— the Jota—is the absolute epitome of what a super-bike should be. The Laverda Jota 1000 made a big impression upon its launch in 1976. Producing 90hp and clocking speeds of over 140mph, it was the fastest production motorcycle to date.

Ironically, it needed a little British inspiration to produce the Jota. During the mid-1970s, Roger Slater, Britain's Laverda importer, was campaigning the Italian company's big 1000cc 3C models in production bike events with great success.

Like the 3C, the Jota used a three-cylinder, double overhead-camshaft layout, but it was now fitted with wider racing cams, three 32 mm Dell'Orto carburettors, a close-ratio gearbox and a modified exhaust system. The result was that an already quick machine became even faster. In a straight line the Jota was capable of almost 140mph, while a standing start quarter mile could be disposed of in just over 13 seconds. All-out speed, however, is not really what the Jota is about. It is a riders' bike, the kind of machine that comes into its own on fast and twisty roads.